R.I. ranks 6th for 595 future clean energy jobs announced in 4Q

Developers of three clean energy projects in Rhode Island issued projections in the final months of 2013 suggesting that they could ultimately create 595 jobs in the state, earning Rhode Island a place among the top 10 states for clean energy job announcements in the fourth quarter.

R.I. ranks 6th for 595 future clean energy jobs announced in 4Q

RHODE ISLAND COMPANIES issued projections in 2013 that clean energy projects in the state could ultimately create 820 new jobs – far fewer than California's 15,397 projected jobs – but the Ocean State ranked sixth for clean job announcements in the fourth quarter alone, when companies projected 595 jobs related to clean energy projects. Above, a map showing industry job projections across the U.S. for the full year of 2013.

PROVIDENCE – Developers of three clean energy projects in Rhode Island issued projections in the final months of 2013 suggesting that they could ultimately create 595 jobs in the state, earning Rhode Island a place among the top 10 states for clean energy job announcements in the fourth quarter.

Industry group Environmental Entrepreneurs compiled the rankings based on job announcements made by more than 70 projects nationwide in the three months ended in December. The announcements represent a project’s potential to create future jobs, and do not imply that the project is actively hiring for the number of positions projected, according to Environmental Entrepreneurs Communications Director Bob Keefe.

Among the companies projecting new clean energy positions in Rhode Island were National Grid, which projected creating 529 new jobs; Boston-based Nexamp Inc., which projected creating 50 jobs for New England’s largest solar installation at Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown; and wind energy research firm Navatek, which projected creating 16 jobs in South Kingstown.

Rhode Island’s 595 clean energy job announcement total for the fourth quarter ranked sixth in the U.S. according to Environmental Entrepreneurs. Texas ranked first with 3,286 job announcements, followed by Arizona with 1,585 job announcements and New York with 1,265 job announcements.

During the full year of 2013, companies announced projections for 820 future clean energy jobs in Rhode Island, including the 595 jobs announced in the fourth quarter as well as 25 jobs projected by Schnitzer Steel Industries’ automobile part-recycling facility in Johnston and 200 jobs projected by Deepwater Wind LLC.

Rhode Island did not place among the top 10 states for clean energy job announcements in 2013. California projected creating the most industry jobs last year, 15,397, while Texas ranked second with 6,368 job announcements and Hawaii ranked third with 5,748 job announcements.

Nationwide, more than 78,600 clean energy and clean transportation jobs were announced in 2013 as part of 260 projects tracked by Environmental Entrepreneurs.

“When we invest in clean energy and clean transportation, we put people to work in every corner of the country,” said Judith Albert, executive director of Environmental Entrepreneurs. “Whether it’s a new wind farm in Iowa, an energy efficiency retrofit in Massachusetts, or a utility-scale solar array in Nevada, these projects require American ingenuity and labor. The sector is helping stimulate our economy.”

Get the most up-to-date data on the Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts business community from the PBN List Center. Download and purchase PBN Lists as well as the complete Book of Lists in Excel format.